What the hell was that hulking monster? My mind screamed at me for an answer, while I hid behind one of those enormous trees. My body was shaking like a leaf, my heartbeat skyrocketing and sweat made my eyes burn.
My hands trembled when I brought it above my mouth to stop a sob from breaking out, I need to be silent. A twig to my right broke, and I flinched. It has found me.
Oh god, I’m going to die. But the silence that followed was killing my nerves, it wasn’t expected at all.
I took a few stuttering breaths and willed my body to move; I need to see if it was still there or not. At least I should try to make a run for it again before it got me.
I need to fight for my life. My mind made, I peeked to my right and found nothing. I sighed in relief, maybe it got bored and left, right? Yes, it must be.
It couldn’t wait for me forever; I have been running for what? Ten minutes by now, maybe?! I will try to retract my path and find my way back to the castle, as silent as possible.
I breathed deeply and moved to the other side and smacked into something hard and warm. I gasped from the impact. My breath evaded me and small hairs or something similar clung to my open mouth and tongue.
Something snarled and the hard object I hit moved with the sound. I raised my head with wide eyes and trembling lips to see what made that horrendous noise, but a loud scream was all I could get out of me in return.
I fell to the ground and crab crawled backward. The beast’s body tensed and his eyes fixated on me. I only took two steps before it snarled in a warning. So I stopped and held my breath.
That thing was huge. Standing on two feet, it was taller than any human could ever be. But that is the only similarity I could find. It was hairy, his arms long and fingers tipped with sharp glinting claws.
Its huge thighs were curved awkwardly as if he wasn’t standing to its full height. But the most terrifying thing about it was its face.
It was shaped like….it looked deformed to me. The long muzzle and sharp teeth didn’t proportion with its small ears and eyes. And that nightmarish face was gazing intently at me.
It raised its snout and breathed the air, then those golden eyes glowed with interest. The monster crouched, and he crept on all four. Eyes still glowing and now Saliva was dripping from its mouth.
Just when he reached my dirty bare feet, his eyes turned down. I flinched when those clawed fingers touched my toes. Is he going to start with my feet? Or do monsters have fetishes too? I almost cackled like a maniac, I tend to be sarcastic when I’m distressed or scared.
But I returned my attention back to that thing and swallowed hard when it raised my left foot to its mouth.
“You know, I’m a skinny bitch. Just skin and bones. All ballerinas are really, not only me. I won’t be a satisfying, fulfilling meal, trust me.”
The beast turned its head to the side like a dog, his tongue hanging out there. He looked confused for a second before shaking its huge head and licked my little toe.
The frozen state of my body evaporated and I kicked his mouth, or tried to, with the foot he was holding. But all I managed to do was nicking my toes with one of those sharp canines.
The beast growled at me flashing his sharp teeth and snatched my leg again, but this time his grip was bruising. I whimpered. It felt like my foot was going to break at any moment.
It sniffed my foot again and licked it with enthusiasm this time. The moans he made after tasting my blood were more terrifying than his growls or snarls.
I whined again and tried to back away, but he shifted with me and in one swift move, my body was under him. He looked me in the eye, his tongue licking his thin lips as if savoring the remaining taste of my blood.
“Please, don’t eat me. Or at least make it quick.” I whispered, don’t even know why bother. It can’t understand me.
I gave up and went limp beneath it and moved my head to the other way. Offering it my neck. Make it quick, I prayed to god for the first time in my life.
The monster on top of me took that as an invitation. And buried its muzzle into the crook of my neck, and whimpered, pushing its body into mine. I stopped breathing when I felt something hard and hot poking my thigh.
I bucked and flailed, I need to get away right now. I had made my peace with being eating and killed gruesomely, but this is a no. I won’t stay still for it to violate me like this, NO.
I opened my mouth and screamed, and something howled in the distance. The oblivious beast tensed and his ears twitched, and then crouched above my shaking body.
His eyes scanned the forest or the garden. Or whatever the hell it was. And for a moment I was free, so I crept slowly first then ran screeching on top of my lung.
“Help somebody help me. HELP.” I heard some voices ahead and the beasts’ angry growls and snarls followed me.
I ran as fast as I could, but the monster was gaining on me. I took a deep breath and screamed higher this time. “Help.”
Someone called my name, and I tried to run in his direction, but the beast jumped on top of me.
Then his mouth circled my neck. He growled constantly in warning, his body crouched, covering me entirely. I sniffled. I was so close to escaping.
“Let her go now.” A feminine voice said softly and then added.
“Please.” I heard several footsteps, so I tried to move my head to take a good look. But the beast bit my neck harder.
“I don’t want to hurt you. Let go of Sarah, please. You are not yourself right now. And you are hurting her.” He snarled in response to my friend’s words and crouched further down, his weight suffocating me.
“Mine.” I heard the guttural word and froze. Did it just speak right now? Or my mind was playing tricks on me. Am I going crazy?
“Then, as you wish. Dylan, you know what to do?” Growls and snarls filled the air a second later, and I was rushed between Lina’s arms. I buried myself in her soft body, shaking and crying.
Even though her scent was familiar and comforting. My mind couldn’t comprehend what just happened. I looked behind me and saw five enormous dogs, as big as a horse, fight the beast.
But they weren’t its match. After a tiresome tussle, it looked at me and whined before it ran away. In the distance, we heard a pained howl followed by so many. I shuddered. What the hell is this place?
I pushed my friend away and glared at her and the few people that remained. “What the fuck just happened? And what the hell was that thing Lina?”
She looked down nervously. “What were you doing outside your room, Sarah? I asked you so many times not to go out at night, especially on full moon nights such as this one?”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Don’t answer my question with another one. And the moon isn’t full tonight.” It was, but fuck it. I can go out whenever the hell I want; I’m not a prisoner here. I huffed.
“Just let’s get back to the castle and I will tell you everything.” She reached for my arm tentatively and I walked with her, the men following silently behind at a distance, respectfully.
The moment I entered my suit, I rushed to the bathroom and threw my guts up. And even though my stomach was empty, I kept heaving. It might be adrenaline withdrawal or something, but after this little walk back.
My body felt drained and heavy. It kept on convulsing, and I held the toilet for support. I rested my head on the cold toilet bowl, not caring if I got dirty or not.
My head was spinning and another rush of nausea was attacking me.
I felt awful and drained. Who would have thought something like this would happen to me? When Lina invited me to her birthday, and also to spend some time together. I was excited to see her home and finally meet her family.
I never have thought in a million years, that I would be attacked by ugly monsters. I gagged and threw up again, but nothing came out. Lina came to the bathroom and helped me to my bed.
I collapsed exhausted and fell asleep immediately. My mind went back to two weeks ago before any of this had ever happened, and my dreams were full of monsters and pained howls.
“Un deux trois et quatre. Un deux trois et quatre, encore.” Monsieur Claude, the ballet master, clapped his hands with the rhythm. I twirled and raised my arms around my head like a circle. “Siegfried, why are you so tense? You should be fluid like water. Follow the music and let your body sway. Give me a goodattitude.” Victor bent one knee and looked at me. I took a couple of deep breaths and then two wide steps towards him. He reached for me and swiftly raised me up. I opened my arms and arched my back. “No,Odette. You are a swan, an elegant and delicate bird. You are supposed to be as light as a feather, but you look like a sack of potatoes. This is ridiculous.” He used his cane to knock on the chair beside him a few times. “That is enough,Assemblé.” we all stopped as one and stood up, back straight waiting for his instructions. “You all sho
“So you are here and making all this fuss, just for some petty theft?” I rubbed my temples. This was getting on my nerves and I do not need more stress, right now. The full moon is upon me and, worse, this one is the blood moon. Dylan stood straighter, eyes downcast. “I’m sorry, your highness but I think there is more to this.” I moved my stiff shoulders from behind my old wooden desk and eyed my beta. “More? You said some food and clothes were the only things they took, so it must be a teenage prank or something.” I stood and went to the big window that overlooked the sea. I really would like to have a swim right now. My body temperature was heating up and my brain too. Dylan spoke again, but this time his voice was lower. He knew I was getting irritated. “No, your majesty. I sent some enforcers to look into it, and they said that person didn’t leave any scent. I think this might be something different.” He winc
I stood there mouth open and eyes wide, when Lina said a private jet I never thought she was telling the truth. I thought she said that just for my mother’s sake. She chuckled and nudged me. “Close your mouth, love. People would think that I have kidnapped you or something.” I turned and gaped at her. “Who the hell are you, really?” She winked and adjusted her sunglasses, even though there was no freaking sun at all. “I’m a princess sweetheart, you are a friend of a royalty.” I scrunched up my nose and followed her to the plane. “You are pulling my leg now, right? Stop joking around and tell me the truth.” She winked at me and went for the small stairs that will help her ascend the plane. The pilot and the flight attendant greeted her. “Lady Ascelina, It is an honor to have you with us today.” They said while they looked at their feet. I stopped and gawked at them. The man was freaking big. His suit barely contained him and he di
I walked to the shower to wash all the blood and grime off of me. This morning I woke up on my balcony, body scratched and drenched in blood. I leaned on the black tiles and closed my eyes. The lukewarm water irritated my open, sensitive back, but I clenched my teeth and endured it. I looked down and saw the dirty water drain. I almost heaved when I saw a piece of fur and something that resembled an animal's hove struggling to wash away. That asshole monster had enjoyed his time yesterday and now slept contently inside my head and here I am, the one who was cleaning his mess. I tried to remember anything from the night before, but I couldn't. All I get always was bits and pieces of foggy memories. I growled in annoyance and used my claws to scrub my hair with some shampoo. By the time I was wrapping a towel around my waist, there was a soft knock on the door. I inhaled deeply and smiled when I smelled my mother and little sister.
It has been almost a week now and I loved every single minute of those six days. Lina would take me out each morning and we would take a stroll on the island.I know now that we are on the Caribbean islands. That was a hell of a journey. But it was worth it. I have never seen this much nature in forever.The place here is quiet and peaceful. People are so generous and every day I return with so much sweets and baked goodies that I’m sure that I have gained a couple of pounds.It might be because of Lina’s popularity, but I liked to think that people actually like me.I put on the long robe of my green bathing suit and took the long stairs two at a time. This morning my friend has suggested we should spend it on the beach because the castle was hectic for a couple of days now.She said the guest will start to arrive today and everyone is on red alert so we should stay away and enjoy ourselves.It wasn’t somethi
“King of vampires, your bloodsuckers are scaring my demons. They are too frightened now to do any work in the human realm.” Caius, the demons king, teased Lucius.The vampire king glared at him then flashed his fangs. “My people did nothing and the order officially cleared us.” I rubbed my temples and gritted my teeth.This was too fucking much. I didn’t want any of those assholes here, but it was a tradition to have them for the sanguis lunae pars.It was the night when the goddess has created the first Lycan and made him the absolute ruler, so they needed to pledge their loyalty to me.They must acknowledge my dominance. A rule of the goddess, not mine.“Enough Caius, I don't know why you enjoy taunting him. If you two need to fuck or something, just do it and be done with it.”Augustus, the wizard king, said, making Blaise thunder with laughter.&nb
I blinked several times, trying to will my eyes not to water, but the struggle was real. I raised my hands to rub them, they were itchy and dry. The girl assistant swatted my hands away.“Lady Sarah, please, you will smear your mascara.” The girl glared at me and I rolled my eyes then winced. It felt like thorns were growing out of the heavy lashes.“Jessica, please call me Sarah. There is no need for a lady. I’m not royalty, you know.” I looked at her through the big mirror and she frowned.“I can’t, my lady. No matter how much you try. We all have seen you being held by the supreme alpha a few days ago.” She lowered her head and sniffed me, then continued.“And you still smell like him. John told me that his highness has been calmer since that day and we all think that his other has finally chosen a mate. As a matter of fact,
I clenched and unclenched my fists, my claws dug into the balms of my hands, but I didn’t care. I needed the pain to anchor me.The stench of death was filling the ballroom, tickling my hunting instinct and now wasn’t the time to run mindlessly.Jessica’s body was still on the ground. No one dared to touch it except the wizard king. It looked like an old raisin, shriveled and dry.Augustus was still checking the corpse when my beta and the enforcers came back.“We checked the castle and the surrounding areas, but there was nothing, not even a scent.” I growled at Dylan and crowded his space.“Of course, there is no scent. You are searching for a skin walker, not just some rogue shifter.” I sneered at him and paced the balcony. I was angry at him and myself.Sarah could have gotten hurt. She was alone most of the time in this vast castle and she